China told openness must accompany power

Defence Minister Stephen Smith has told a Chinese audience that their country’s increasing military might obliges it to be more open and transparent.

Mr Smith, speaking in Beijing, also defended Australia’s decision to host United States marines in Darwin, arguing the step could end up enhancing security co-operation with China.

The defence minister said on Wednesday Beijing was a substantial contributor to the current global order.

“China maintains the world’s largest standing military, with advanced capabilities, including ballistic missile,” he told the China Institute of International Strategic Studies.

“With this rise comes added strategic responsibilities for China including the need for greater openness and transparency in relation to capabilities and strategic doctrine.”

Mr Smith said Canberra was positive about China’s emergence but wanted Beijing to be a “constructive player in a harmonious global order”.

He tried to placate Australia’s biggest trading partner over plans to rotate 2500 US marines through northern Australia each dry season.

The minister noted there were no US military bases in Australia at present and insisted “this will not change”.

“Australia fully expects that our deepening co-operation with the United States will also reinforce existing relationships and provide opportunities to enhance co-operation with our security partners in the region,” Mr Smith said, adding Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had suggested “this could in future include China itself”.

Mr Smith will on Thursday visit the Chinese navy’s south sea fleet in Zhanjiang.

He said he was committed to developing even stronger military relations with Beijing through “practical activities and dialogue”.

When it came to trade, Mr Smith said Australia and China needed each other. Both had proven to be resilient in the face of the global financial crisis, he said.

“By working together Australia and China can remain strong even as many other parts of the globe continue to confront economic uncertainty.”

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